Chapter 17
I needed time to think. Think about everything—what the fuck I did, and what the fuck I will do. Fact is, I can’t go back to how things were before.
Mia and I didn’t start with me taking her virginity. We began when our eyes locked for the first time. With each passing day, we became a bit more––more need, more desire, just more. That want for more of her steadily became a craving that took over my body, heart, and mind.
But after I had her, things have changed irrevocably. Once I opened the door to more, I couldn’t slam it shut again. No, because after I stepped inside, I wanted to stay.
I drive along the ocean. Pulling my window down, I inhale the cold breeze and scrunch up my nose, disappointed that I can no longer smell her scent—a mix of amber, orange blossom, and her natural sweet scent. She’s all I can think about—everything I burn for and everything I should stay away from. It was hard to leave her the first time, but now it would be nearly impossible.
What options do I have? Tell her how fucked I truly am? Confess my greatest sin and hope she won’t leave me?
That would be na?ve and stupid. Nothing would hurt more than her looking at me like I am a monster—a cold-blooded killer.
There’s just something about her that is made to stitch all my pieces together, threading them with lightness so that the weight, sadness, and regrets I carry ease.
Stopping the car, I walk toward the beach, the crisp air biting into my face. The waves crash at the shore, like my need for her in my chest.
Sitting in the sand, I sense someone approaching. Turning around, I groan.
“Really, asshole?”
“I thought you’d need company,” Kaden says.
“I wasn’t leaving.”
“I know, but this damn waiting makes me antsy.”
We look out at the sea when my phone pings with a message. I pluck it from my jacket pocket, only to find a picture of me carrying Mia home last night. The text from a blocked number makes my blood freeze.
I’ll take her from you.
“Where is Mia?” I ask. Swallowing hard, I look down at my shaking fingers as I tighten them around the phone. My knuckles turn white.
“Blake, what is it?”
“We need to go back. Now, right fucking now.”
“You need to calm down for a moment.”
I shove the phone in his face, and his eyes widen. “Fuck.”
“I can’t lose her, Kaden. Not her.”
It takes me half the usual time to reach the house. Once inside, I shout her name and take two stairs at a time. When I don’t find her in her room, my knees weaken. I palm the wall for support, breathing through the anguish to avoid losing my shit.
“Blake?” Abi approaches me, putting a hand on my back.
“Where is Mia?”
“She’s visiting her father.”
The relief is so potent it almost knocks me down. Getting a grip on my erratic emotions, I storm into Bailey’s room and show her my phone.
“Can you tell me anything about the sender’s location?”
My father wouldn’t be that stupid, but I know one thing: someone at the college works for Felix and Caleb, and I will not rest until I find them.
Bailey types rapidly on her laptop. “No,” she says dejectedly, closing her eyes in frustration.
“Access the cameras from the college. Someone must have passed by when we walked home last night.”
She nods, and Celine walks into the room, asking, “What happened?”
“My father sent me a message. He is after Mia.”
I storm away, and Kaden says, “Where are you going?”
“To watch over Mia.”
“She’s at the damn compound. It’s surrounded by guards.”
“Let’s all go there this weekend. We can spend some time with our parents,” Celine suggests.
“Yeah, my mom keeps trying to get me over for dinner,” Kaden says.
I appreciate their support, and we all get into our respective cars.
When I park the car in front of Cillian’s mansion, it’s late, and the moon is high in the sky. I notice light coming from the living room and a flicker of light from an upstairs window. I knock, and when her father opens the door, he crosses his arms, looking me over.
“Blake.”
“Cillian. Is Mia here?”
“Yes, she is.”
I move to pass him when he says, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I have to see that she’s okay.”
“She’s here with me––her father and I’d paint this world red for her.”
“I understand, sir, but I would do even worse.”
He studies me intently. “You’re him—the guy who has been giving my daughter a hard time.”
Why are we losing precious time when I need to see how she is?
“Can I come in, please?” I ask through gritted teeth, losing my patience by the second, and he finally lets me enter.
“You’re used to getting your way, aren’t you?”
“I need to see Mia.”
I am at the foot of the stairs when he says, “I didn’t say you could go to her room. Let’s talk first.”
Fuck, my chest feels like it’s going to explode with unease if I don’t see for myself that she’s all right.
We move to the living room, and he points at a leather armchair.
“Something to drink?”
“I don’t drink, sir.”
“You won’t impress me by lying to me.”
“Oh, sir, I did drink. I drank so much I’m amazed I didn’t end up in an alcoholic coma, but I realized it wouldn’t change a thing—just like alcohol has never really helped me.” It didn’t even manage to get me wasted.
“I see.”
He pours a glass of whiskey and sits in the armchair beside me.
“Mia is my sunshine.”
Every fiber of my being demands to scream that she might be his daughter, but she’s mine. Only mine. I shut my mouth, knowing my declaration wouldn’t go over well.
“I’d protect her with my life.”
“Does she need a protector when she obviously wants something else?”
Those words slither down my back, stiffening my spine.
“I’d give her whatever she wants.”
“I see, but do you love my daughter, Blake?”
“I don’t know what that is, sir. I wish I knew, though—for her.”
Sadness washes over him. “I appreciate the honesty. You can see for yourself she’s fine. If she’s asleep, don’t wake her up.”
“I wouldn’t, sir.”
“But before that, tell me the reason for your late visit.”
“I got a message from my father. He’s going to try to take Mia from me. I can’t allow that, sir.”
His face pales. “Give me your phone. I want to see for myself.”
I don’t tell him that we’ve already tried to find out where the text came from. Perhaps if he’s busy finding a lead, I can stay in her room undetected, so I give him my phone.
“The door stays open,” he says.
I swallow a groan. “Of course, sir.”
I take the stairs two at a time, eager to finally see her. My pulse spikes, but everything in me calms down once I see her on her bed, reading. The room is small but inviting, with a comfy bed resting against the far wall, positioned directly across from the door and perpendicular to the floor-to-ceiling window that floods the place with natural light. An armchair and a small table sit in front of the window while a closet near the door completes the room. The whole space is done in warm, earthy tones.
I lean against the doorframe, admiring pure beauty and out-of-this-world perfection. I don’t deserve her, but I can’t stop myself from wanting her, either. I am done. Done pretending I can stay away from her. Done telling myself I am stronger than this pull toward her. Just done.
“Stalking me?” she asks, looking up from her book, and I walk inside.
“You weren’t at the house.”
“You weren’t next to me when I woke up, either.” She drags her bottom lip through her teeth, and I take a seat on the edge of the bed.
“I could never leave you again. I promise that if I ever leave, it’s because you want me to go.”
Time stills as that connection between us latches around our souls, binding us together.
Longing fills my insides as I look at the empty side of her bed.
“You can’t sleep here.”
I groan. “I know.”
“What happened?” she asks, reading me too well.
How do you tell the girl you’d die for that your psychopath of a father plans to hurt you by hurting her?
Standing up, I rake both of my hands through my hair, and pace around. Ever since I got that text, an untamable fury has been steadily growing inside of me, making me want to raid the world until I find the motherfucker and kill him.
Not her. She is where I draw the line.
She tiptoes toward me as if I am a wild animal she doesn’t want to scare off.
“Tell me, please.”
“I got a message… Caleb is after you.”
She holds in a breath and then expels a loud sigh.
“That’s why you came?” she asks, sounding hurt. I slide my index and middle fingers under her chin to make her look at me.
“Nothing is more important to me than your safety.”
“Maybe for you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You’ve seen that I am fine. You can leave now,” she says haughtily, arms crossed over her chest.
“Do you think you can hide from me, Mia?” I stride toward her, forcing her back against the wall next to her bed.
There’s no place she can run or hide from me. Even if she went to the ends of the world, I’d find her. Nowhere is too far or unreachable to get to her.
“Not even you could keep me away any longer,” I declare.
I brace my palms on each side of her face. Her silver eyes draw me in. Good, because I want to live inside of her.
“I warned you, didn’t I? And now you’re fucking mine.”
I slam my mouth on hers. Parting her lips with my tongue, I dive into her sweet and addictive taste. She grips the ends of my hair with the same fiery passion and unbound madness.
We kiss until both of us gasp for air. Seeing her swollen lips and glazed eyes does something to me. I trace my thumb along the contour of her pouty mouth, captivated by the sight. She pokes her tongue out, wrapping those sinful lips around my skin, igniting a fiery lust in me that short-circuits my rationality.
“Don’t start what you can’t finish. I don’t care much about the consequences.” Especially not now when I am drunk with desire.
“My father––”
I dip my thumb inside, and that shuts her up.
“I wouldn’t care…”
Apprehension flickers in her eyes. She should be afraid, but like I said, it doesn’t matter anymore.
“See you tomorrow,” I say, forcing myself to take a step back before I lose it for good.
“Where will you stay?”
“I will be watching you, Silver.”
Once downstairs, I see her father with a drink in his hand, looking disheveled. The top button of his shirt is undone, and his hair is tousled as if he shoved his hands through it one too many times.
“Did you tell her?” he asks.
“Of course.”
He sighs and takes a bigger swig, handing me my phone back.
Dipping my head, I offer a goodnight, letting myself out. I slide into my car parked in front of their rightful home—the Prescotts, descendants of one of the six founding families. The Family’s history has been a bloody war of power and greed, going as far as eliminating whoever stepped out of line. Yet, here we are, a new generation struggling to overcome the corrupt legacy we inherited.
I don’t even attempt to close my eyes. The only time I can sleep longer through the night is when I am with Mia, but that is out of the question, so I guess my car will do for tonight.
From my vantage point, I can see my childhood home, mocking me. I don’t remember my mother—she died when I was four—but it’s not as if I ever hoped that I would have turned out differently. Still, I can’t help but wonder, and not for the first time, how having a family, a home, a safe place would have been.
Shaking myself from my idiotic thoughts, I lean back against the headrest and pull out my phone. With nothing new on the black market, I dial a number I didn’t want to touch. But if he brings me to my fucking father so I can eliminate him, fine.
I am desperate enough that I would sell my soul to keep her alive. The Family might have endless resources, but Felix and Caleb know our strengths and weaknesses better than we do. We’re nothing if not resilient—something Felix and Caleb couldn’t torture out of us.
While it rings, I stare at Mia’s window. She’s worth it.
It rings four times before Cato picks up.
“Blake.”
“I need a favor.”
“Why do you think I would grant you one?”
“Because I am Blake Sinclair, heir to the Family, and you fucking know it.”
“Yet, you want the Syndicate’s help.”
“Let’s skip the pleasantries. Your underground reach is impressive. I want my father’s location. In exchange, I will offer you an irrefutable deal.”
There’s silence on the other line. I guess he didn’t expect this utter stupidity either.
“Don’t go back on your word—because in my world, the consequence is death.”
If my father grabs Mia before that, I would rather be dead.
“Got it,” I confirm.
“You have a deal.”
“If I find him before you, the deal is off.” I hang up and lean my head back, closing my eyes.
There’s a knock on the window, and Abi and Kaden are outside. These two won’t leave so I let them in.
“I don’t need supervision,” I mumble. “And aren’t you stitched to your better halves?”
“Har har,” Abi replies.
“They are caught up in a video racing competition,” Kaden says. “You know how competitive Celine is.”
“And with them busy, we thought to see what the troublemaker of the group is doing.”
When I don’t reply, she says, “Blake, what did you do?”
“Sold my soul to the devil.”
“What does that mean?” Kaden asks.
“It’s too late, anyway. If he keeps his end of the bargain, I’ll be his bitch.”
“You asshole, why would you do that?”
“Because it’s her.”
Silence follows, and Kaden asks, “Who is he?”
“Cato Moretti… The Syndicate is interested in the Family.”
“Couldn’t you talk to us before that?”
“Time is running out. I can’t sit and do nothing.”
“What are we going to do now?” Abi asks rhetorically.
“Let’s figure out one problem at a time,” Kaden says. “Now, we need to stay together.”
“We’re living with the enemy. As long as we don’t know who the traitor is, it’s irrelevant.”
Abi shrugs. “I could live without my sperm and egg donor. They pushed me to marry Kaden, so they are the most obvious choice in who helped them escape. Cassandra is too diplomatic.”
“Cassandra is exactly what we need. She’s trying to show us a different path,” Kaden says.
“She can’t. Those assholes would eat each other alive to get more power. That has never been our motivation,” Abi replies.
“Do you think I like it? She insists on us having a damn normal college experience when we should be leading the team searching for Felix and Caleb,” I grumble.
“Maybe that’s what we should do—just wait,” Abi says.
“We won’t have to wait much longer,” Kaden says, looking down at his phone. “Cassandra just summoned a crisis meeting tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” I say, settling back into my seat.
“Bye, stalker,” Abi taunts.
“I’m not crazier than Dane.”
“If you say so,” she smiles and kisses my cheek.
We’re starting to feel more unified again, but my time is ticking. Whether it’s the Family or the Syndicate that finds him, I will serve whoever eliminates the threat to Mia’s life.